Detector system for object movement in a game

Abstract

A method and system is provided which is particularly designed for board, lane or field games in which balls, pucks or the like are rolled, slid or otherwise propelled by a player over a horizonal support surface. Radiant energy emitters and detectors are providing along opposite sides of the support surface to detect crossings by the of detection lines including a first pair of lines perpendicular to a central reference line midway between such opposite side and a second pair of lines crossing the first pair of lines at points in the central reference line. Signals are developed which are applied to display a representation of the object which moves in a path and at a speed determined by the movement of the propelled object. Crossings of additional detection lines are detected to detect and display changes in speed and curvatures in the path of movement of the propelled object.

I claim as my invention: 
     
       1. A method for obtaining information regarding the movement of an object in a horizontal path which is in a region along a horizontal reference plane and which is between side boundaries of said region, comprising: establishing first and second horizontal detection lines in generally spaced, parallel relation to each other across said reference plane at locations to be intersected by said object when moving in said path;   establishing third and fourth horizontal detection lines across said plane which intersect said first and second lines, respectively, at acute angles and at locations to be intersected by said object when moving in said path; and   determining the times of intersection of each of said first, second, third and fourth detection lines by said object so as to provide information regarding the path and velocity of movement for said object, wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth detection lines is established by projecting a beam from one side boundary of said region and detecting said beam at the opposite side boundary of said region.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional steps of: comparing the times of intersection of said first and second detection lines by said moving object to provide information regarding the component of velocity of movement of the object in a direction perpendicular to said first and second detection lines;   determining from comparisons of the times of intersection of said third and fourth detection lines with the times of intersection with said first and second detection lines the slope of the movement path in relation to said first and second detection lines; and   adjusting the difference between the intersection times of said first and second detection lines in accordance with said slope of the movement path to obtain information regarding the speed of object movement across the plane.   
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, further including a determination of locations at which the object intersects detection lines which comprises measuring a first time interval between object detection along said first detection line and along said second detection line; measuring a second time interval between object detection along said first detection line and said third detection line; comparing said first and second time intervals to determine the distance to the right or left of the point of intersection of said first and third detection lines at which the object intersects said first detection line, and comparing the relative times of detection of said second and fourth lines to determine whether the point at which the object intersects said second detection line is to the right or left of the intersection of said second and fourth detection lines. 
     
     
       4. A device for diagnosing movement of an object in a plane comprising means providing a horizontally extending support surface having opposite side boundaries for support of said object during movement in said plane and between said side boundaries,   first, second and third sensor means for detecting the intersection of said object with first, second and third linear and horizontal paths that are above said support surface and that are parallel to but spaced from each other in said plane,   fourth, fifth and sixth sensor means for detecting the intersection of said object with fourth, fifth and sixth linear and horizontal paths that are above said support surface and that intersect, respectively, said first, second and third paths at an acute angle, and   circuit means responsive to said sensor means for processing signals from said sensor means to develop electronic information indicative of the speed and path of movement of said object along said plane,   each of said sensor means comprising emitter means on one side boundary of said support surface for projecting a horizontal beam across said surface and a detector for receiving said beam at the opposite side boundary of said surface and for developing a signal for application to said circuit means.   
     
     
       5. A game device comprising means providing a horizontally extending support surface having opposite side boundaries for support of an object which is propelled by a player to be moved in a horizontal plane and in a longitudinal direction between said side boundaries,   first and second sensor means for detecting the intersection of said object with first and second horizontal and linear paths that are parallel to but spaced from each other in said plane,   third and fourth sensor means for detecting the intersection of said object with third and fourth horizontal and linear paths intersection, respectively, said first and second paths at acute angles,   circuit means responsive to said sensor means for processing signals from said sensor means to develop electronic signals which indicate the path of movement of said object along said plane, and   display means responsive to said electronic signals from said circuit means for displaying a representation of said object moving in a path which corresponds to said indicated path of movement of said object.   
     
     
       6. A device according to claim 5 wherein said circuit means further processes signals from said sensor means to develop electronic signals which indicate object speed, and wherein the representation of said object displayed by said display means is moved at a speed proportions to the speed indicated by said electronic signals. 
     
     
       7. A method for obtaining and displaying information regarding the movement of an object propelled by a player of a game in a horizontal path through a region in adjacent parallel relation to a horizontal reference plane, comprising the steps of providing a horizontal object-supporting surface which defines said region and side boundaries of said region, establishing first, second, third and fourth horizontal detection lines extending through said region to be intersected by an object moving in said path, determining the relative times of intersection of each of said detection lines by said object to provide information regarding the path of movement and velocity of an object moving through said region, and displaying a representation of said object moving through a display region in a path which corresponds to said path of movement of said object along said horizontal reference plane. 
     
     
       8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein said first and second lines are in spaced parallel relation, and wherein said third and fourth detection lines intersect said first and second lines at points along a reference line which is perpendicular to said first and second detection lines. 
     
     
       9. A method as defined in claim 7, further including the step of establishing at least one additional detection line extending through said region to be intersected by an object moving in said path, and determining the time of intersection of each said additional detection line in relation to the times of intersection with each of said first, second, third and fourth detection lines to provide additional information regarding said path of movement of said object. 
     
     
       10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein said first and second lines are in spaced parallel relation, wherein said third and fourth detection lines intersect said first and second lines at points along a reference line which is perpendicular to said first and second detection lines, and wherein a fifth detection line extends through said region without intersecting any of said first, second, third and fourth detection lines. 
     
     
       11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein said fifth line is in parallel relation to said first and second detection lines and wherein a sixth detection line is at an acute angle to and intersects said fifth detection line at a point along said reference line. 
     
     
       12. A game device for obtaining information regarding the movement of an object in a horizontal path through a region in adjacent parallel relation to a horizontal reference plane, comprising means providing a horizontally extending support surface having opposite side boundaries and defining said region for support of an object which is propelled by a player to be moved in a horizontal plane and in a longitudinal direction between said side boundaries, sensing means for developing signals in response to the intersection of an object moving in said path with first, second, third and fourth horizontal detection lines extending through said region, and time measuring means for determining the relative times of said signals to develop electronic signals corresponding to the path of movement and velocity of an object moving through said region, and display means responsive to said electronic signals from said time measuring means for displaying a representation of said object moving in a path which corresponds to said indicated path of movement of said object. 
     
     
       13. A device as defined in claim 12, wherein said first and second lines are in spaced parallel relation, and wherein said third and fourth detection lines intersect said first and second lines at points along a reference line which is perpendicular to said first and second detection lines. 
     
     
       14. A device as defined in claim 12, further including the means for developing a signal in response to the intersection of an object moving in said path with at least one additional detection line extending through said region, said time measuring means being operative to determine the time of intersection of each said additional signal in relation to the times of signals corresponding to intersections with said first, second, third and fourth detection lines to develop additional electronic signals corresponding to said path of movement of said object. 
     
     
       15. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein said first and second lines are in spaced parallel relation, wherein said third and fourth detection lines intersect said first and second lines at points along a reference line which is perpendicular to said first and second detection lines, and wherein a fifth detection line extends through said region in spaced relation each of said first, second, third and fourth detection lines. 
     
     
       16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said fifth line is in parallel relation to said first and second detection lines and wherein a sixth detection line is at an acute angle to and intersects said fifth detection line at a point along said reference line. 
     
     
       17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein said display means is arranged to respond to said additional electronic signals to display a change of speed and a curvature of the path of said representation of said object. 
     
     
       18. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein said display means is arranged to respond to said additional electronic signals to display a change of speed of said representation of said object.